This is not about the story, but more about the flavor of Aetherborn. They have very short life span, so their life's goal tends to be enjoy themselves the best they can, but at the same time recognizing the coming of their end.
This is a side of black I think Wizards doesn't explore as much as they should; tragedy. Just like red is about chaos and emotions, there are very few cards like Feldon of the Third Path that showcases its sympathetic side. With Aetherborn, and the cards that spoiled so far, they have this genuine sorrow embedded into them, a knowing that they will Die Young therefore must Live Fast, which fuels many of their hedonist schemes like Gonti, Lord of Luxury. This direction gives black a more human side, not just pure evil, violence, and corruption that permeates the color pie. Cards like Bereavement also has that tune to it, but Aetherborn takes it further.
I wish Wizards can continue to dish out the less common side of colors. Heliod, God of the Sun being an antagonist as white, and Nahiri, the Harbinger being a antagonist at W/R are both nice additions, I want to see more.
Totally agree, loving the aetherborn already. Live fast and Die young may not turn out to be great cards, but that won't stop me building a deck around them!
Normally Black cards are really bad, and it isn't until tricolor that Black is passable. But the Aetherborn are really hitting an area of Black that resonates with me. I wish they appeared more, I'm guessing they'll be an almost Kaladesh exclusive race.
As much as I like the concept behind the aetherborn, I can't help but feel they should have at least been partially red. Also blue, because aether is blue, which leaves my aesthetic senses confused.
Oh well, I'll live. Too bad aetherborn are probably Kaladesh exclusive, because black really is in dire need of more races.
I agree that the Aetherborn should also be Red as a secondary color.
I also agree that they bring out a good side of black. I'm not one who identifies with black, in fact it's my least favorite in terms of philosophy, but even I feel for the Aetherborn. That's a testament to how great their concept is.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
I agree of the sentiments of this thread. Most black characters in Magic are all "I will conquer the world because I must" or "It's all about me, and I'm going to screw everyone else over." A lot of people think black is just pure evil, and don't realize how nuanced it is. Black isn't just the pursuit of power, it's recognizing and accepting that the world is a harsh place, and the best course of action is to make do with what you have. Very tragic, and far from evil.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vorthos Cartography - Check out my completed maps of Zendikar and Innistrad!
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
Oh well, I'll live. Too bad aetherborn are probably Kaladesh exclusive, because black really is in dire need of more races.
Vedalken was exclusively Mirrodin for a while, until they were found on other planes, mostly involved in intellectual traits. It is entirely possible that Aetherborn can appear else where, since Aether is just another form of energy.
The Aetherborn reminds me of the War boys from Mad Max Fury Road. They usually die young because of cancer and other desises so they try to live to the fullest so that they can be remenbered. Very tragic actually.
Oh well, I'll live. Too bad aetherborn are probably Kaladesh exclusive, because black really is in dire need of more races.
Vedalken was exclusively Mirrodin for a while, until they were found on other planes, mostly involved in intellectual traits. It is entirely possible that Aetherborn can appear else where, since Aether is just another form of energy.
There was really only a gap of Kamigawa, not a huge delay between Vedalken reappearing. And it's certainly possible Aetherborn may pop up again. I like them a lot more than Vampires/Zombies, just feel more interesting. Helps that they can be sentient as opposed to Zombies, which feel more prevalent. People just need to convey they like Aetherborn. Only issue I have is the name, but that's a minor gripe.
Oh well, I'll live. Too bad aetherborn are probably Kaladesh exclusive, because black really is in dire need of more races.
Vedalken was exclusively Mirrodin for a while, until they were found on other planes, mostly involved in intellectual traits. It is entirely possible that Aetherborn can appear else where, since Aether is just another form of energy.
The problem is how closely they are tied to aether. Aetherborn only exist on Kaladesh, because of the aether refining process, so logically it wouldn't make sense for them to pop up on other planes with an average amount of aether. Doesn't mean creative won't find a way to make them fit, but usually they are looking for creature types that fit naturally, without additional work required, so the chances are slim.
However, there might be a lot of aetherborn on Iquatana, though it's unlikely we'll ever go there as a block setting. Also, depending on how the mage-rings on Vryn operate, aetherborn might also feature there.
The Cinders from Shadowmoor are kinda like Aetherborn, even if they are Elementals, they evoked the similar feelings of them lacking something everyone else around them have. But as the poster before that said, they had red in them, which resulted in them not just suffering or enjoying themselves, but actively seeking to channel their emotions onto others, by extinguishing the fire that they lack themselves in the others and make them suffer too. Also etherium liches from Alara might be typed as Aetherborn if we ever to return there.
I doubt anywhere will get new Aetherborn, it would be kind of odd for them to pop up randomly. But I could see new planes having them. Old planes already have their black characteristic race anyways.
Eh, the big similarity is that they are both artifact focused. But that's about it. The major races between the two are pretty different (really only Vedalken count given how common humans are), the appearance between the two is drastically different, it seems odd to say they're similar feeling to me. Kaladesh embraces the red side of things too much for me to see it like Esper.
I won't deny they're somewhat similar, but I think Esper is much closer to Mirrodin than Kaladesh. Kaladesh feels like a very different spin on an artifact plane, especially when it's big thing is Aether.
This is a side of black I think Wizards doesn't explore as much as they should; tragedy. Just like red is about chaos and emotions, there are very few cards like Feldon of the Third Path that showcases its sympathetic side. With Aetherborn, and the cards that spoiled so far, they have this genuine sorrow embedded into them, a knowing that they will Die Young therefore must Live Fast, which fuels many of their hedonist schemes like Gonti, Lord of Luxury. This direction gives black a more human side, not just pure evil, violence, and corruption that permeates the color pie. Cards like Bereavement also has that tune to it, but Aetherborn takes it further.
I wish Wizards can continue to dish out the less common side of colors. Heliod, God of the Sun being an antagonist as white, and Nahiri, the Harbinger being a antagonist at W/R are both nice additions, I want to see more.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Oh well, I'll live. Too bad aetherborn are probably Kaladesh exclusive, because black really is in dire need of more races.
I also agree that they bring out a good side of black. I'm not one who identifies with black, in fact it's my least favorite in terms of philosophy, but even I feel for the Aetherborn. That's a testament to how great their concept is.
-Chandra Nalaar
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
Vedalken was exclusively Mirrodin for a while, until they were found on other planes, mostly involved in intellectual traits. It is entirely possible that Aetherborn can appear else where, since Aether is just another form of energy.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
There was really only a gap of Kamigawa, not a huge delay between Vedalken reappearing. And it's certainly possible Aetherborn may pop up again. I like them a lot more than Vampires/Zombies, just feel more interesting. Helps that they can be sentient as opposed to Zombies, which feel more prevalent. People just need to convey they like Aetherborn. Only issue I have is the name, but that's a minor gripe.
The problem is how closely they are tied to aether. Aetherborn only exist on Kaladesh, because of the aether refining process, so logically it wouldn't make sense for them to pop up on other planes with an average amount of aether. Doesn't mean creative won't find a way to make them fit, but usually they are looking for creature types that fit naturally, without additional work required, so the chances are slim.
However, there might be a lot of aetherborn on Iquatana, though it's unlikely we'll ever go there as a block setting. Also, depending on how the mage-rings on Vryn operate, aetherborn might also feature there.
Or they are actually the next step after aetherlichdom.
Though I doubt they'll do aetherborn on Esper. Kaladesh and Esper are already too close as it is.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
Because the vast majority (More than 50%) of all aether-related cards are blue-aligned.
As I said, it's not directly a logical thing, it just feels slightly off. But I'll get over it.
Aether isn't intrinsically blue; it's unrefined magic. It's every color; or more probably, no color.
Blue gets more of it because it's better at understanding how magic works than other colors.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
>Not buying my feelings.
p_p
Honestly I'd rather they embrace and expand on the similarities instead of pretending they aren't similar feeling.
Remember, Tezzeret is basically ruling Kaladesh. I have a feeling they'll expand on those similarities more when there's a story focused on him.
I won't deny they're somewhat similar, but I think Esper is much closer to Mirrodin than Kaladesh. Kaladesh feels like a very different spin on an artifact plane, especially when it's big thing is Aether.
Otherwise, Kaladesh and Esper are as different as day from night.